In January 2003, Norwegian politicians debated the use of a Norwegian fighter plane supporting coalition forces in Afghanistan.
What did MP Trond Helleland think about his nation's first military involvement since the Second World War? Not much, apparently: Helleland was too busy playing Metalion (a space-invaders type war game) on his handheld computer.
Indeed, he played for about seven minutes -- without realizing that television crews had zoomed in on him and would later feature the footage on the national news.
[Helleland said he had simply been meaning to check his schedule... just like this councilor listening to the Mayor addressing the City Council.]
[A local ordinance in Atwoodville, Connecticut, prohibits residents from playing Scrabble while waiting for a politician to speak.]
Sources
ananova.com, 30th January 2003
